"Our collaboration builds Europe"

The School of Engineering's collaboration with the University of Udine in Italy is further strengthened when Professor Marco Sartor joins the the department of Supply Chain and Operations Management .

—We have a lot in common and building bridges is at least as important as the research results themselves, he says.

It is a positive Italian with a knack for laughter who meets you on the fourth floor of one of JU's labyrinthine corridors. Perhaps the glass jars of Italian pesto on the shelf in his study indicate a certain homesickness, but otherwise Marco Sartor is full of praise for JU and the research environment he will now be affiliated with as a visiting professor for a year.

—It's a nice place with employees who are both cooperative and smart. What more could you ask for, he says cheerfully, and believes that personal relationships are important in research collaborations, of which he has extensive experience, linked to the USA. As a professor of Quality Management, Marco Sartor's focus is on how best to achieve optimal quality in products and processes. At the The School of Engineering, he will work with assistant professor Nina Edh and professor Annika Engström in the part of AFAIR that focuses on leading and organizing for AI integration in the industry — a challenge that is worldwide.The similarities between JU and the University of Udine, which is located north of Venice are several, he explains.—The cities are about the same size and the universities have about the same number of students. Both invest in international collaborations and we also do research in similar areas and are surrounded by similar companies — this creates the conditions for good collaboration.

Growing community

With Marco Sartor as a visiting professor, the relationship JU already has with the University of Udine is strengthened. Professor Daniel Pittino at JIBS comes from the same Italian university and there are student exchanges. There is also currently a joint project underway where professors and students are writing a book that should be ready this spring, says Marco Sartor. —It will be a textbook on introducing AI with both theory and practical examples from different companies. It should be able to be used in education but also by the business community.Marco Sartor believes that the collaboration between JU and the University of Udine will continue to grow, and in addition to strengthening research on leadership and quality in connection with AI integration, he sees a — perhaps even deeper — significance.—We live in a time when many people close their doors and think about themselves. The collaboration means that students can create connections, which become bridges that no one can destroy. We are creating Europe. For me personally, it is more important than the research itself.Finally, how was it about leaving Italian food to travel to Sweden?—I'm only away from home for a couple of weeks — that's no problem. You have to try to find the best local cuisine, like in the US where they have good steaks. There are good restaurants here. They are different — but good, Marco Sartor says diplomatically with a laugh.